With Chinese hot rolled coil (HRC) prices at the lowest they’ve been since we started assessing them in 2006, and US scrap prices down $20 month on month, our editors' ponder just how low steel prices can go.

Platts Asia steel team discusses the implications for steelmakers' procurement behavior of low spot prices for coking coal and iron ore, and gives an overview of recent market conditions in the region.

Interview: European macroeconomic outlook and the impact on the domestic steel industry

Platts interviews Jeroen Vermeij of Eurofer on the state of the European economy; the impact on the largest steel consuming sectors; industry specific issues such as overcapacity; and how steel producers can correct the supply and demand imbalance.

Mike Fitzgerald, Platts editor, explains how the transportation of iron ore has been delayed by icy conditions in the Great Lakes region, which in turn has kept steel producers from operating at full capacity without the raw materials they require.

Platts interview with Li Xinchuang, President, China Metallurgical Industry Planning & Research Institute and Member, China Iron & Steel Association on how the country's steelmakers are expected to react to the issue of regulated pollution controls and the long term outlook for steel demand and prices.